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COPPERHEADS UNDER THE HEEL 



AN ILLINOIS FARMER. 

/ .^ 



On the last day of the Illinois Legislature, in February, 1863, Mr. Funk, a 
Senator from McLean County, delivered a speech, which is thus describ ed and re- 
ported by the Springfield correspondent of the Chicago Tribune : 

A great sensation was created by a speech by Mr. Funk, one of the richest 
farmers in the State, a man who pays over three thousand dollars per annum 
taxes towards the support of the Government. The lobby and gallery were 
crowded with spectators. Mr. Funk rose to object to trifling resolutions, which 
had been introduced by the Democrats to kill time and stave off a vote upon the 
appropriations for the support of the State Government. He said : 

Mr. Speaker, I can sit in my seat no longer and see such by-play going on. 
These men are trifling with the best interests of the country. They should have 
asses' ears to set off their heads, or they are traitors and secessionists at heart. 

I say that there are traitors and secessionists at heart in this Senate. Their 
actions prove it. Their speeches prove it. Their gibes and laughter and cheers 
here nightly, when their speakers get up to denounce the war and the administra- 
tion, prove it. 

I can sit here no longer and not tell these traitors what I think of them. And 
while so telling them, I am responsible, myself, for what I say. I stand upon my 
own bottom. I am ready to meet any man on this floor in any manner, from a 
pin's point to the mouth of a cannon, upon this charge against these traitors. 
[Tremendous applause from the galleries.] 

I am an old man of sixty-five ; I came to Illinois a poor boy ; I have made a 
little something for myself and family. I pay three thousand dollars a year in 
taxes. I am willing to pay six thousand, aye, twelve thousand, [great cheering, 
the old gentleman striking the desk with a blow that would knock down a bul- 
lock, and causing the inkstand to fly in the air,] aye, I .am willing to pay my 
whole fortune, and then give my life, to save my country from these traitors that 



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are seeking to destroy it. [Tremendous applause, which the Speaker could not 
control.] 

Mr. Speaker, you must please excuse me ; I could not sit longer in my seat and 
calmly listen to these traitors. My heart, that feels for my poor country, would 
not let me. My heart, that cries out for the lives of our brave volunteers in the 
field, that these traitors at home are destroying by thousands, would not let me. 
My heart, that bleeds for the widows and orphans at home, would not let me. 
Yes, these traitors and villains in this Senate [striking his clenched fist on the desk 
with a blow that made the Senate ring again] are killing my neighbors' boys now 
fighting in the field. I dare to say this to these traitors right here, and I am re- 
sponsible for what I say to any one or all of them. [Cheers.] Let them come 
on now, right here. I am sixty-five years old, and I have made up ray mind to 
risk my life right here, on this floor, for my country. [Mr. Funk's seat is near the 
lobby railing, and a crowd collected around him, evidently with the intention of 
protecting him from violence, if necessary. The last announcement was received 
with great cheering, and I saw many an eye flash and many a countenance grow 
radiant with the light of defiance.] 

These men sneered at Colonel Maxik a few days since.* He is a small man, 
but I am a large man. I am ready to meet any of them in place of Colonel 
Mack. I am large enough for them, and I hold myself ready for them now and 
at any time. [Cheers from the galleries.] 

Mr. Speaker, these traitors on this floor should be provided with hempen 
collars. They deserve them. They deserve hanging, I say, [raising his voice, 
and violently striking the desk ;] the country would be the better of swinging 
them up. I go for hanging them, and I dare to tell them so, right here to their 
traitorous faces. Traitors should be hung. It would be the salvation of the 
country to hang them. For that reason I must rejoice at it. [Tremendous 
cheering.] 

Mr. Speaker, I beg pardon of the gentlemen in this Senate who are not traitors, 
but true loyal men, for what I have said. I only intend it and mean it for seces- 
sionists at heart. They are here in this Senate. I see them gibe, and smirk, and 
grin at the true Union men. Must I defy them ? I stand here ready for them, 
and dare them to come on. [Great cheering.] "What man, with the heart of a 
patriot, could stand this treason any longer? I have stood it long enough. I will 
stand it no more. [Cheers.] I denounce these men and their aiders and abettors 
as rank traitors and secessionists. Hell itself could not spew out a more traitorous 
crew than some of the men that disgrace this Legislature, this State, and this coun- 
try. For myself, I protest against and denounce their treasonable acts. I have 
voted against their measures ; I will do so to the end. I will denounce them as 
long as God gives me breath ; and I am ready to meet the traitors themselves, here 
or any where, and fight them to the death. [Prolonged cheers and shouts.] 

I said I paid three thousand dollars a year taxes. I do not say it to brag of it. 
It is my duty, yes, Mr. Speaker, my privilege, to do it. But some of these traitors 
here, who are working night and day to put their miserable little bills and claims 

* Hon. A. W. Mack delivered a powerful speech in the Senate of Illinois, on the thirteenth of February, 
in opposition to the Armistice Resolutions of the " Copperheads." 



through the Legislature, to take money out of the pockets of the people, are talking 
about high taxes. Thej are hypocrites as well as traitors. I heard some of them 
talking about high taxes in this way, who do not pay five dollars to the support of 
the Government. I denounce them as hypocrites as well as traitors. [Cheers.] 

The reason they pretend to be afraid of high taxes is, that they do not want to 
vote money for the relief of the soldiers. They want to embarrass the Government 
and stop the war. They want to aid the secessionists to conquer our boys in the 
field. They care about high taxes ! They are picayune men, any how, and pay 
no taxes at all, and never did, and never hope or expect to. This is an excuse of 
traitors. [Cheers.] 

Mr. Speaker, excuse me. I feel for my country, in this her hour of danger, 
from the tips of ray toes to the ends of my hair. That is the reason I speak as I 
do. I can not help it. I am bound to tell these men to their teeth what they are, 
and what the people, the true loyal people, think of them. [Tremendous cheering. 
The Speaker rapped upon his desk, apparently to stop it, but really to add to its 
volume, for I could see by his flushed cheek and flashing eye that his heart was 
with the brave and loyal old gentleman.] 

Mr. S peaker, I have said my say. I am no speaker. This is the only speech 
I have made, and I do not know that it deserves to be called a speech. I could 
not sit still any longer and see these scoundrels and traitors work out their hellish 
schemes to destroy the Union. Thej'^ have my sentiments ; let them, one and all, 
make the most of them. I am ready to back up all I say, and I repeat it, to meet 
these traitors in any manner they may choose, from a pin's point to the mouth of 
a cannon. [Tremendous applause, during which the old gentleman sat down, after 
he had given the desk a parting whack, which sounded loud above the din of 
cheers and clapping of hands.] 

I never before witnessed so much excitement in an assembly. Mr. Funk spoke 
with a force of natural eloquence, with a conviction and truthfulness, with a feryor 
and pathos which wrought up the galleries, and even members on the floor, to the 
highest pitch of excitement. His voice was heard in the stores that surround the 
square, and the people came flocking in from all quarters. In five minutes he 
had an audience that packed the hall to its utmost capacity. After he had con- 
cluded, the Republican members and spectators rushed "up and took him by the 
hand to congratulate him. The Democrats said nothing, but evidently felt the 
castigation they were receiving most keenly, as might be seen from their blanched 
cheeks and restless and uneasy glances. 



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